Homeless man wows with rendition of James Ingram’s ‘Just Once,’ gets help from netizens

A homeless man in Northern Samar just impressed everyone with his rendition of “Just Once.”

In a video shared to GMA News, Vivencio “Tagapok” Empalmado Jr. was seen singing his heart out to the 1999 hit with a microphone.

“Siya mismo nagyayaya sa akin na mag-videoke kaya po lagi ko siya pinapakanta dito sa tindahan ko,” said store owner Fernan Fabrigas, the person who took the video.

[He asks me to sing at the videoke so I always let him sing at my store.]

As of writing, the video has garnered over 118,000 views, 7,500 reactions, and 530 comments.

“Galing kumanta. Baka dating singer ’yan. Iba kasi bumanat - professional,” one wrote.

[He sings well. Maybe he was a singer. He performs like a professional.]

“He really knows the song and sang it well,” said another in a mix of English and Filipino.

According to Fabrigas, Empalmado used to be their former neighbor. He finished college but suffered from depression when his mother died. He has since been loitering when he came back from Manila.

Apart from letting Empalmado stay with him, Fabrigas also gives him food and clothes from time to time.

Since the video went viral, netizens have been sending donations to Empalmado. Among the things he did with the money were to get a haircut, take a bath, and change his clothes.

Fabrigas said they also used the money to have Empalmado checked up and buy his medicines and groceries. – Franchesca Viernes/RC, GMA News